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Nursing Shortage Means Career Options

People now have longer lives compared to generations ago. The explosion of the baby
population will need vast medical care but nurses are insufficient

The scarcity of nurses may have a negative effect on medical care. It means an increase
to the ratio of the number of patients per nurse, resulting to less attention to each
patient. There will be fewer nurses to monitor the patient's vital signs and administer
necessary medications. Nurses also offer a human face to a cold and sterile
environment.

Based on a study on nursing made by the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), there were 1,891,000 full-time equivalent licensed nurses on year 2000 but
there was a demand for them to nearly 2,001,500. By 2020, it was seen that there will be
less FTE nurses at an estimate of 1,808,000, yet the need increases to 2,824,900. It is
estimated that the country could lack nurses close to 500,000 or even 1 million. The
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) made a similar projection in April
2006. In a report entitled "What is Behind HRSA's Projected Supply, Demand, and
Shortage of Registered Nurses?" analysts show that shortage of nurses in varying
degrees will be experienced by all 50 states.

Statistics also confirmed that the number of nursing school graduates has declined
significantly. The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply, an independent group of
health care leaders based on University of Pennsylvania, released a statement last
March 2008. They concluded that that to meet the needs of the nation's health care,
there should be 30,000 additional nurses to graduate annually either from traditional
campus colleges or online nursing programs. This is a 30% increase compared to the
present number of annual nurse graduates.

Additionally, fewer nurses choose to teach due to low income, which also affects the
figure of new nurses. More nurses prefer to work for pharmaceutical companies because
they offer higher salary than hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, and other health care
facilities.

Salaries and wages vary, depending on your location and specialization. To give you an
idea, we listed below the median of annual salary figures from CBSalary.com.

• Registered nurse: $66,427


• Intensive care unit (ICU) nurse: $67,548
• Head nurse: $85,967
• Critical care unit (CCU) nurse: $67,016
• Nurse midwife: $98,008
• Home-care nurse: $65,507

Just like other professions, the nursing job is not for everyone. But if it appeals to you,
this could be the right moment to take a look into it. The call for nurses will continue to
increase in the coming years, so you will definitely be in demand.

(November16, 2010 www.mynursingdegree.com)


Transforming care at the bedside: A new approach to nursing
There are many, many people with stressful jobs, but it is difficult to compare a
Corporate CEO's stress with that of a Registered Nurse. Yes, the stress is different, as
one deals with money and the other deals with life and death. The real contrast? That
CEO may need the assistance of the nurse to save his life at some point in the future,
whereas the nurse will never have the same sort of need for the CEO. Yes, our nurses
are vital to our well being. They hold our hands through procedures, they assist in the
delivering of our babies, and they take over completely in lieu of a doctor's presence.
Unfortunately for the CEO, and for many patients in hospitals right now, nurses are
pulled in so many different directions that it has become impossible for them to keep up.
Job stress, long hours, and unmanageable constraints on their time have resulted in a
major nursing shortage and a high turnover rate. A complete restructuring of the nursing
profession is long overdue. It is obvious that the RN career path must change, and
Transforming Care at the Bedside is the solution.

Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) is attempting to change the current state of
nursing today. TCAB is a three-year training program that will be undertaken by nurses
around the country. Through training and support, RNs will focus more time on their
patients and work to maintain job satisfaction over a long period of time.

The nursing shortage has reached critical levels due to many factors. The aging
population of nurses is larger than the influx of new recruits, as the inhibiting costs and
high enrollment rates in schools outweighs the ability to take in students interested in
earning their nursing degree. Once on the job, long hours and an overwhelming work
load can take its toll. TCAB began as an initial brainstorming project in a medical-
surgical unit. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the goal was to find and
implement different ways for nurses to do their jobs. The eventual hope was that the unit
could increase job satisfaction to the point that there would not be such a high turn over
rate. What began in 2003 as an initial one-unit project has expanded to over 200 units
across the USA.

TCAB uses a multi-tiered approach to finding new and innovative solutions in health
care. Taking ideas from nurse educators, and administrators, TCAB's focus is on
change. Rapid test cycles, discussions as to what works and what doesn't, and involving
the entire staff is what creates a new work environment.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant of $732,000 funds the initial changes, and
allows for the freedom of implementing new policies and procedures in hospitals. A
massive retraining and overhaul would cost a great deal of money to each individual
hospital, and the grant puts much-needed funds to good work. Nurses that are currently
in residence are retrained and encouraged to voice their opinions. New recruits are then
given tools and information to begin their career as a nurse, learning to do things the
new way and not fall into old traps.

TCAB may be the key to turning the current nursing shortage around and providing all
RNs with a better work environment. It is the hope that a patient focused approach will
increase the satisfaction of both the nurse and the patient.
www.mynursingdegree.com) October 10,2010

What is a Telenurse?

Advances in technology are creating ways for industries to get more done, in less time,
saving them countless dollars and improving productivity among workers. These
same advances are trickling into the medical field, where medical charts are being
replaced by laptops and paging systems have become smart phones.
Telenursing is one of these technology-based advances.

A Telenurse is a nurse who utilizes the latest in technology to monitor patients, give
medical or first-aid advice and even help locate a clinic, hospital or physican that
can best serve the patient’s needs. Telenursing has been used with geriatric care,
helping to keep track of the effects of medications and treatments, as well as with
mothers in labor. Recently, in Houston, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia, telenurses
have been used to help keep the rate of non-emergency visits to emergency
departments in hospitals to a minimum.

One of the risks involved with Telenursing is that the patient may feel they have lost
a personal connection with those in charge of their medical care, and the nurse can
feel the same disconnect. Transitioning from face-to-face, interpersonal contact into
a technology-based care system may be hard for many people to understand or
accept, but on the other hand, Telenurses can help faster than a nurse can help in a
doctor office. For instance, if a new mother has a question about her newborn
baby'scough, she can "remote in" and get instant advice rather than going into the
emergency department and waiting, or having to schedule an appointment to see
the pediatrician.

Telenursing also helps cut back on patient’s needs to schedule childcare or


transportation around their medical appointments and can even save lives by
providing information about critical first-aid care while waiting for an ambulance or
other emergency care provider.The learning curve involved with Telenursing is what
some say holds the field back. Nurses and medical professionals with decades of
experience were not trained in the use and benefits of telehealth devices, and for
many of them, it is more work than its worth to use technology over standard care.
Those graduating with a four-year degree in nursing are more likely to be familiar
with the protocols, benefits and practices related to Telenursing, especially those
who have taken classes online.
Telenursing is a growing opportunity for nursing professionals who enjoy the role of
a nurse who can help benefit m any people by monitoring their health from a
distance.

The benefits of Telenursing come down to the ability to act faster than in a standard
nursing environment when the medical issues begin at the patient’s home. It is also
reported that Telenurses may even make a larger salary than "in-house" nurses.
Nurses who incorporate the latest technologies and who are not afraid to go beyond
their general nursing school curriculum may be able to take advantage of the
upcoming opportunities in Telenursing, helping to bridge medical care and
technology as well ashelping patients receive beneficial medical care in the comfort
of their own homes.

www.mynursingdegree.com July 16, 2010

Top 10 Nursing Careers on the Rise


(www.mynursingdegree.com April 20, 2010)
These days, opportunities in nursing have increased and become much more varied.
Along with this is the continued demand for more qualified nurses as the health care field
is becoming more complex with specialized fields expanding and the large population of
retiring nurses leaving the workplace.

Nurses are now able to find careers that can be more rewarding and specialized outside
of the hospital setup.

For anyone who has a desire to help to others, has a keen interest in high quality
medicine, or who is into the exploration of new places and people, here are the top 10
nursing careers rise.

Travel Nursing

Currently, there are many towns and cities in the country and the world that are in
desperate need of qualified nurses. In response to the growing nursing shortage, the
travel nurse industry has quickly become a lucrative career for qualified nurses.

Travel nursing is an exciting career where nurses travel to work temporary short-term
positions in different locations and in various capacities. The role offers higher pay than
typical stationary positions, professional growth and development, and personal
adventure.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation can range from $24 to $42 per hour.
Nurses with an RN nursing degree will have the easiest time qualifying for travel nursing
positions across the United States as the degree requires a national board exam. LPN's
will need to check licensing requirements for each state and apply for temporary licenses
when needed.

Military Nursing

Here you will be working with the military forces both at home and overseas. When you
work in the Armed Services, opportunities for further education, travel, and career
enhancement will be available to you. Your pay can be up to $45,000 annually, and you
may be able to receive a loan to repay your nursing school fees.

Forensic Nursing

Forensic Nurses work with law enforcement to collect evidence at crime and accident
scenes. They are trained to identify injuries and/or death and their causes, preserve and
document the chain of custody, and refer victims for appropriate follow-up care.

As a Forensic Nurse, you can pursue a wide array of exciting nursing career
opportunities, including positions in medical examiners' offices, law enforcement
agencies, social service agencies, and specialized hospital units. Salaries start around
$35 per hour and can go up to $100 per hour.
This career is gaining popularity as online forensic nursing certification
programs become more accessible for busy nurses who do not have time for traditional
classroom training.

Legal Nurse Consultant

Certified legal nurse consultants typically work with private attorneys and corporate
lawyers. LNCs not wanting to work in the court system find work outside the courtroom
in hospitals and clinics, insurance companies, and government agencies. Many are hired
to help provide quality assurance at pharmaceutical firms and chemical companies.

Jobs in the profession are on the rise as more and more companies introduce
medications and devices that are federally approved, reviewed, or contested in the
courtroom or by government agencies.

Like Forensic Nursing, a Legal Nurse Consultant certification can be gained through
online nursing degree programs making it a very attractive opportunity for working
nurses.

Surgical Nursing

Surgical nurses give assistance to doctors when there are serious surgical procedures to
be done such as organ transplants and neurosurgery. You will also be getting patients
prepared for surgery and giving assistance during surgery.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to move forward in this


profession, and RN-to-BSN programs are offered at many colleges and universities.

Salaries in this profession can exceed $80,000 per year.

Certified RN Anesthetist (CRNA)

A Nurse Anesthetist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is trained to


provide the same anesthesia services as an anesthesiologist (MD). This role is
exceptionally rewarding for many nurses as you are responsible for the patient's well-
being before, during and after the treatment that required anesthesia.

CRNAs are one of the highest paid nursing positions with a reported average annual
salary of approximately $165,000.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to explore this profession.

Nurse Practitioner
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a great career path. Quality nursing care is in serious
demand, and the pay is exceptional. A Nurse practitioners serves as primary and
specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing and health care services to
patients and families.

The most common specialty areas for nurse practitioners are family practice, adult
practice, women's health, pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics. There are also a variety
of other specialties that nurse practitioners can choose, including neonatology and
mental health.

Nurse Practitioners have completed advanced educational degrees beyond a Bachelor


Degree. Typically, a Nurse Practitioner will complete either a Master's Degree or a
Doctorate Degree. This advanced and specialized training allows the Nurse Practitioner
to administer many different types of health care services to patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

CNSs are uniquely prepared to assume the role of case manager-one who organizes
and coordinates services and resources, and who works to control costs. This makes
CNSs central players in the growth of managed care, and they serve to manage the
complexities and interdependencies of different parts of health care practice.

Clinical Nurse Specialists are clinical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of illness.
They are advanced practice nurses with training and experience to take on the role of
case manager in their area of specialty.

This profession is a great next step for RNs to further explore a specific area of interest
and become an leader in the treatment and advanced care for it.

Clinical nurse specialist earn an average salary of close to $80,000 annually.

Staff Nurse

A Staff Nurse has a very important role in the health care industry. He or she must be
able to make decisions based on scientific knowledge, health care procedures and
standardized care plants. As a Staff Nurse becomes more advanced, they move on to
client cases that are more complex in nature.
The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse in the United States is $62,089 and
the role requires an RN certification at minimum.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse is involved in both emergency and non-emergency transportation of


patients. Inter facility transport and "scene calls" are also a part of this career. Salaries
for this intense career are generally over $60,000 a year.

A New-Graduate Program: Empowering the Novice Nurse


Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 10/07/2010
Cheeks P et al. – Healthcare organizations struggle to find efficient and effective
strategies to facilitate the transition of a new graduate into the staff nurse role.
The authors have developed a retreat program aimed at assisting new graduates
during this transitional period. The goal of the program is for new graduates to
emerge with feelings of self–efficacy and empowerment.

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